Transmission-gearing.



L. G. NORTON. TRANSMISSION GEARING.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 28, 1908..

942,406. Patented Dec. 7, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

L. O. NORTON.

TRANSMISSION GEARING.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 28, 190B.

Patented Dec. 7, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE LEMUEL c. NORTON, on Los ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

TRANSMISSION-GEARING.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, LEMUEL G. Non'rom'a citizen 'of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Transmission-Gearing, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apower transmis sion mechanism particularly adapted for automobile use in connection with a plurality of engines.

A-basic object of my invention is 'to pro vide a device whereby I am enabled-t0 employ as many engines as may be desired to produce the power needed under varying conditions, thus resulting in a great saving of fuel.

By the use of my-improved form of power transmission mechanism I am enabled when operating along level stretches of highways to employ the minimum number of engines to propel the machine at the desired speed, and when ascending steep hills the full number may be employedto give the machine the required power to ascend the hill, some of the .enginesbeing immediately cut out when the machine reaches the summit, thus greatly. economizing in theme of fuel.

' In Its preferred form the invention consists of a central main shaft around which the units are preferably arranged. Each of the units is connected through a gear train and a clutch to the main shaft, the clutch 1 being operable to throw the" different envaried to suit the needs of any particular gines into and out of service as is desired. The arrangement of the engines may be case, typical arrangement alone being shown 1n the drawings.

I accomplish the above objects by means of'the device described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1, is a plan view of an engine of four units arranged with my improved transmission gear. Fig. 2, is a front end elevation of the same. Fig. 3, is a detail showing a typical form of' clutch used in connection with the transmission mechanism. In the drawings 5 designates a plurality of engines, each consisting of two explosion .cylinders and the other necessary operating parts. Engines 5 are connected by a frame 6 whichis formed in any suitable manner and is provided with bearings ;7 for the j our-' naling of main shaft 8.. This main shaft extends. a slightdi'stanoe forward for the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. *7, 1909.

Application filed September 28, 1908. Serial No. 454,979.

I reception of the usual starting crank and is I provided at its rear end with a clutch connection 9 to transmission shaft 10 which is connected tothe driving wheels of the automobile. On each of the engine shafts 11 is mounted a gear 12 which meshes-with a gear 13 loosely mounted on main shaft 8. Each of gears 13 is provided with a friction clutch connection 14 with main shaft 8, these clutches being operated through the medium of a lever 15 and a connecting rod 16. These connecting rods may extend to any desired point so that the clutches may be evenly operated from a hand lever or levers on the body of the car and within convenient reach of the driver. The clutches may be of any approved form, a typical form being shown in Fig. 3, comprising twoconical members 17 and 18 adapted to be moved into engagement with each other by the operation of lever 15.

As an automobile is usually equipped with sufficient power to travel over heavy roads and steep grades it is apparent that the full amount of power is not needed in traveling over roads having good surfaces. lVith my device one or more of the engines may be cut out of service while the car is being propelled over such a road, a great saving being thuseflected in fuel consumption and general maintenance. When it is desired to start one of the other engines it is only necessary to throw the clutch for that engine into engagement and the engine will bestarted by the rotation of the main shaft. The starting engine will then begin to de velop power and aid in the propulsion of the automobile.

be seen that the present invention embodies the arrangement of a number of engines in such a relation to a main shaft that they may be conveniently thrown into and out of operation. Although this arrangement is particularly applicable toexplosion engines as used in automdbile construction it is not at all limited to that use and may be used for many other purposes.

-I claim,

1. In a transmission gearing, the combination of a main transmissionsha ft, a clutchmember thereon, a second shaft, a clutch member thereon adapted to engage with the 'clutchmember on said'first named From the foregoing description it will shaft," a plurality of engines provided with crank shafts, and transmission means bemember thereon,

tween said engine shafts and said main shaft, a plurality of motors, and transmissi'on means mounted between said motors and'said' ma'ln shaft.

3. In a transmlssion gearlng, the combination of a main transmission shaft, a frictron clutch member thereon, a second transmission shaft, a friction clutch member thereon adapted to engage the clutch memher on said mainsh'aft, a plurality of motors, and transmission means between said motors and said main shaft.

4. In a transmission gearing, the combination of a main transmlssion shaft, a friction clutch member thereon, a second transsecon d transmission mission shaft. a friction clutch member thereon adapted to engage the clutch member on said main shaft, a plurality of motors, and tr'ansmissionmeans between said motors and said main shaft, said transmission-means including a plurality offriotion clutches,

5. In a transmission gearing, the combination of a main transmission shaft, a clutch member thereon, a second transmission shaft, a clutch member thereon adapted to engage the clutch member on said *main' shaft, a plurality of motors,-.and g'ear transmission means between said-motors and said main shaft.

In witness that I, claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 21st'day of September, 1908.

Lrmnnr, o. NORTON.

Vitnesses:

.- EDMUND A. S'rRAUsn,

OLLIE PALMER. 

